Disk dictating machine



Filed Dec. 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n 2 we 8% m Mm x m A m wa m 2H,. M m Wm:

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R O T N E v m Llncaln Thompson.

ATTO RN EY L. THOMPSON DISK DICTAT ING MACHINE JuIy ZZ, 1941.

Filed Dec. 31, 1938 AMPLiFiER 7| G2.

2 Sheet-Sheet 2 AMPUFiER 77 INVENTOR 75 Lincoln fiompson.

ATTORNEY reproducing machine's, 'and'more particularly a dictating machine.

Still another object is to r 7 machine of the above nature having means'to recorded on the, record. A still further object is v ing machine of the above nature having an im- Patented July 1941 2.25am d r d v v V nrsx'mc'ra'rmd mcnnva 1 Lincoln Thompson, Stamford, Coma, assignortov The Sound Scriber Corporation,

,QonnJ, a corporation of Connecticut Stamford,

Application'December :1, 193a, Serial no. 248,696

'11 Claims. (ctf179,- -1oo.4)

' This invention relates to sound recordingand to The dictating machine of the present invention is designed to operate on thin disk records having closely spaced grooves (about 165' per inch) vvand being rotated at slow speed (33 R. P. M.) such as were'described in 'rny copending applicationSerialNo. 245,944, filed December 15, 1938, and entitled Apparatus and methods of recording sound on. thin disks. When a seven inch diameter record of this nature is transcribed,

fit willplay forat least eight minutes per side, or .sixteenminutes' jwlien both sides are recorded.

One advantage of such records is that no mateial iscut or shaved from the surface of the recordt he recording being done by indenting and embossing a groove in the surface of the record. Moreover, since these records are very inexpen sive, after being played back they are intended to be'flled as permanent records or thrown away,

' thus eliminating the usual cumbersome and costly shaving mechanisms, such as for cylinderrecords. v r

One object of the present'invention is to proare commonly used vide an improved dictating machine whereby speech or music or other soundssmay be accurately, cheaply, compactly, and permanently recorded on a disk record.

Another object is to providea'dictating machine of the above nature which may be selecings two forms in which the invention may be conveniently'embodied in practice.

In thedrawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of animproved disk dictating machine embodying the present invention. i.

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view in elevation of the same, taken through the sound recording arm shown in-Fig. 1.

. chine showing the tion. l I

Fig. 3 is a broken top plan viewofthe sound recording arm, shown by itself. 1 i 1 Fig. {is aside view of aportion of the mapickup arm in operating posi- Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic layout of the various parts of the dictating machine, together with the controls therefor, and the electrical circuit connections. d

- Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of signal apparatus employing only a single lamp.

Referring now to thedrawing's wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral denotes a zs -rectangular casing within which most of the con-- upon'which are supported a disk record-supporttrol means shown in Fig. 5 aredisposed, and

ing turntable l l, a recording arm l2, and a picktively reset, recorded" and played backf at the will of the operator." s

provide a dictating mark the disk so that visual or'audible'indications will be given thetranscriber when the dictation is interrupted or completed. 1

A still further object is to provide a dictating machine of the above nature having an'improved form, ofjpickup arm for playing back the sounds to provide a'disk dictatproved apparatus for rapidly shiftingfrom recording totranscriblng'and vice versa. I d r still further object of this invention is to provide. an improved disk record dictating machine of the above nature which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction,

compact," ornamental in appearance, and very efilcient and durable in use. 3

With these and other obiects in viewywhich will appear as the description proceeds, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawrear portion thereof.

up" or play-back armli. The turntable H is adaptedto be rotatedbyi a motor I which is drivinglyconne'ctedthereto by any desired means. not'shown. The recording arm I! is connected to the motor 14 through a shaft II driven by a feed mechanism, as more fully described in my prior forward portion of the casing l0-the recording arm I! being ,pivotally mounted on the right side i (as viewed inFig, 1) and being adapted to swing laterally over the turntable II on a post "extending upwardly through the casing It at the The pickup arm I! is plvotally mounted to laterally swing over theturntable II at the left side 'of thecasing l ll-being hinged on a horizontal pin zla mounted in a vertical post 20 secured to the casing ll.

By means of the weak friction slipping disk II, the recording arm l2 may be swung by hand to position a recording head 2| in any desjired'posi tion ovei a disk record 22 located on the turn-- table II.-

The recording orembossing 2| may be of any conventional form,; in which an embossing stylus 22 is adapted to be electro-magnetically actuatedfto indent and embossvsound tracks of spiral formation inthe 'disk record 22. The recording head 2| is pivoted at its-rear section'on a hinge pin 25 secured theforward'end 24 of.

the arm |2. The recording head 2| is provided with a rearward extension ,havingan upwardly extending pin 28 thereon, which is adapted to pass through an'opening 21 jinlthe recording arm 12 in alinement witha circular brake plate 28.

. secured on the upper end of a vertical operating The-rod 28. passes downwardly through an elongated arcuate stop slot 28 (see Fig. 3) formed in .the'recordingfarml2, and-said rod 28 is sup.-

- ported for vertical sliding in'a-bushing 2| secured ,"ta'Ithetop plate 22 of the casing l8. By. means ,ofithis construction, the brake plate 28 may be moveddownwardly to cause it to engage the upstanding pin 28 and tilt the head 2| upwardly about the'hime pin 25. This action will raise the stylus 22 out of contact with' thef-disk record 22. Upward movement of the plate 28 on v the contrary will release the head 2| and permit it to swing downwardly by gravity so that the stylus 22 mayagain engage the disk record 22. When the-brake plate 28 is moved still farther downwardly, it will engage tightly with and lock the recording arm 12 and will hold said arm I2 against swinging movement-during the operation of the pickup-the weak friction slipping disk n permitting continued operation of the motor |4- plate 22 of the casing 8. The lower end 21 of the vertical rod 28 rides on the periphery 28 of the cam 25 (see Fig. 5). Thus, when the brake plate 22 is in its first position (as shown in full lines in Fig. 2), thelower end 21 of the rod 28 will engage the low portion." for locking the 7 recording arm with the stylus up (as indicated in 21g. 2) When the rod end 21 is engaged by the high cam portion 48 of the cam 25, the brake plate 28 will beheld up (as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

- 2 and in full lines in Fig. 5), whereby the arm I2, is released, andthe stylus 22 will rest on the disk'record 22; and third, when the rod end 21 is engaged by the intermediate camrning surface portion 4 I the brake plate 28 will be held partially .down, whereby the lifting pin 2831s engaged by said brake plate, and the stylus 22 is still rais'ed oil of the disk record 22; but said recording arm |2 isnot locked. Under these conditions the arm I I2 may be manually swung back and forth to reset thestylus 22 within any desired groove upon thedislrrecord 22 without backlash due to the weak friction disk l1 and the strong friction brake "a. e g

'In order to permit the cam to be rotated into any one of its three operative positions, a selector ,knob 42 is disposed on the outside of the front 42 has a pointer 44"which is directed upwardly toward a section 45 upon the wall 42 containing the letters R (meaning "reset") D" (meaning dictate), and "P" (meaning "playback"), forvisually indicating the operative position of the cam 25 and the setting of the machine parts. If

' desired, three electric lamps 48, 41 and 48, preferab1y.;of different colors, such as red, green and yellow, respectively, are'also provided to indicate the; operative position of the cam 25, and these lamps 48, 41 and 48 are disposed'above the letters "R," D and P, respectively.

The dictation or sound to be recorded is 7 adapted to be received by a microphone 48 which The playback arm |2 has a pickup head 58 and an inclined needle 5| secured upon the forward end 52 thereof, andthe'head 58 is electrically con-V nected to a loud speaker 53 (head phones may be substituted therefor if desired) of conventional vform which is mounted in-the front wall 42 of the casing l8. The volume ofv sound emitted by the loudspeaker 52 is controlled bya knob 54 located justat the left of the selector knob 42. The arm I2 is swingable on a vertical axis about the post 28 to permit the needle 5| to move across the disk record 22. e r v The'pickup arm I2 is also pivoted on a horizontal pin 28d carried on the top of the post 28 to permit said arm l2 tobe swung tovthe dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, where it is adapted to be held temporarily by a permanent magnet 55, which exerts a strong attraction upon a soft iron armature 5'! located in the rear end 58 'of the pickup arm l2. The pickup arm i2 may be held in said dotted line; position to keep the needle 5| out of disk-engaging position as long as desired. V I In order to iselectivelyconnect the embossing head 2| and the loud speaker 53 so as to be electrically responsive to the micropho'ne 48 and the pickup 58, respectively, as well as to lightthe proper indicatinglamp 48, 41 or 48, .provision is made of three rotary switch arms 58, 58 and 88, which are secured upon a rearwardly extending poti'tion 8| ofsthe cam shaft 28 for rotation therewi h. i

Referring now to Fig. 5, the partsof the dietating machine of this invention are shown schematically in association withthe electrical,

ductor 88 to the microphone (and also bya an a of the casing Ill-(see Fig.1). ;='I'he such conductor 88 to the pickup 'unit 58. Provision is also made of a conductor 18 leading from the other input terminal ll of the amplifier 82, which conductor I8 is connected to 'a' contact 12 on the rotary switch arm 88. h

e A conductor 12 leading from a terminal", at the output end of the amplifier 82, is connected by a conductor 15 to the sound groove embossing head 2|, and by another conductor 18 to the loud speaker 52. A conductor 11 leading from the other output terminal 18 of the amplifier 82 is The contact II on conductors DI and 96. l r

connectedcto acontact It on" the rotary switch arm II. Acontact II on. the rotary switcharm 1 [Us alsoconnected by aconductor It to the line linei-wire-Ll throu h the conductor 63 and the.

w h plus ,5. I i r ed to selectively engage contactpoints t3, and I connected to the lamps" 48,, 41. and II bycon- .ductors .11, and '8, respectively, to? selectively energize them. Moreover, the contact "on the switch arm I! is adapted to selectively engage contact points 89 and 9 connected respectively to the embossing head 2| and the loudspeaker,

byconductors O l and 82. The contact 'llonthe switch arm "is adapted toselecti vely engage contact points it and 94 connected respectively to the microphone ,48 and the pickup unit it by In order to control the starting and" of theturntable motor 14, provision is made of a. conventional form of two-way push button switch 91, preferably mounted in the baseof the microphone it, said switch 91 being connected by a conductor 9' to the line wire L2 through the conductor 64 and the switch plug 65, and by a conductor 99 tojthe coil of a switch-actuating solenoid I00. A conductor Ml leads from the coil of the solenoid lllto thefmoto'r, l4, which is connected by a conductor I02 to the linewire LI ductor N, and the switch plug", anda conductor lllconnects the switch ill to the coil of the c ll. Another conductor III comb,

the coiioftheisolenoid Hz to the, line wire LL ,throughthe conductor ttjand the switch plug OI.

While a marking pencil or crayon III is shown:

in Fig. 2 arranged in aninclinedlp'ositionwith the swit'e i 'erm ssaade t'.

' punch m is illustrated and is adapted to indent .ously, if desired, toprovide both forms its point directed inwardly closely adjacent the stylus 23. to mark the disk, it will be understood that other forms of marking devices maybe employed. Thus-in ig. 5.9. sharp pointed metallic the disk to cause visible andaudiblesignals. It will also,be understood that the apparatus may be, so arranged. that both. the marking crayon ,Hlandthe punch I22 may be used simultane- 1, 8-

nals upon the same record.

' V v Modified indicator In the modiiledform of the invention: shown in Fig. 6', aniarrangementis disclosed whereby two of the lamps", I] and II of'the ilrst'form ing bnck. i

made of an opaque disk ltlhaving three transthrough the conductor", the conductor, and

theswitch plug 65.

' The solenoid I00 automatically switch ill, when the motor. .isjenergized by the push button switch 91 toclose the circuit between a conductor" llil leading to; aconventional form of current rectifier I05, and a conductor 108 leading to the coil I01 of a turntable brake Ill constructed asshown and described in applicantswcopending application, Serial No.

242,598, filed November 26, 1 938., A' conductor .iIl leads from thecoil ;lll to the output terminals of the current rectifier I05. Theinputteractuates a relay may be omitted, and. a single lamp' I maybe employedto indicate whether the apparatus is in condition for.resetting, 'fdictating" or ."pla'y- In this modified form, provision is parent lenses; 9. red one III, a green one I82,

and a yellow one Ill, rigidly mounted thereon in positionto be rotatedin front of an opening (not shown) in the front wall 43 of the cas'ing ll. The disk. H0 is secured to the camshaft in front of the cam "and the single electric lamp llll is disposed behind the disk I" to illuminate the lenses Iii, I32 and I, respectively, according to the position of thecarn 35. The lamp I minals of the rectifier II! are connected by conductors ill and llito the line wires L2 and LI through. the conductors: it leading to theplug v co q nr apparatus in order that, the operator of this machine may indicate to the transcriber on the disk record,"

when a paragraph,letter or the like iscomplet'ed, provision is made, of Lmechanism .to mark" the disk 22 witha crayon in such a mannerthatthe mark will .be visible to the transcriber when the record is being playedba'ck. This mechanism comprises asol'enoid H2 '(Fig. 2).mounted in' a suitable bracket I ll carried by the recording solenoid H2 and is adapted to be acted upon by the latter when energized toforce amarkin'g disk; record .22 except when the solenoid Iiiis energized."

To energize the solenoid 2 whenever desired, a provision is made of a push button switch ,I i8 alsomounted inthe base of the microphone II. A conductor Ii! connects-the switch II! to the 1.51m: wire. L2 throughjthe conductor", the con and II respectivelyis arranged to be lighted by the insertionof the plug switch into its socketby means of apair of conductors I35 andlti, respectively, connected to the conductors 63 and it leadlng to the linewires LI and L2; if i t.

- Warningsianal During the jdictation, the recording head 2i, will be gradually swung toward the center of the disk record", and after thedesired numberof sound grooves have been recorded, the record may be turned overffor recording on its other side. ,To warn the user when the head 2| is approaching the recordinglimit, an angular spring nngerilois'secured to the arm I! and extends downwardly and inwardly therefrom into posi- I tionto be engaged'by a pin Ill depending from the underside of the turntable II. By means of this construction, it wm be seen that whenever the'pin .lll strikes the. finger H0 (once ateach revolution of the turntable), a "clicking" sound will be produced, thus audibly indicating that the V limit of recordingis approaching. ,0r,if desired, head II, A plunger lfllissuspended within the,

a switch-actuating arm ,(not shown) may be substituted for thef'spring finger I, so that asignal lamp may be lightedforthe same purpose t ,Operation e .In operation, when the user desiresto necessary, to plug the switch 65 into theline LI and L2, and,,rotate the selector knob 42 into its central dictatingposition marked .Df' onl 'lgures land 5; This action will cause the cam II to assume the position shown in Fig. 5 with the rod I end 31 restingontheicam portion 40, whereby the brake plate 28 will'be lifted awayfrom therecording arm l2, releasing it and permitting the d dictation on the disk record, it will only be .ti'on may alsobe interrupted the cam portion '4Iiof the cain 35, II will be raised from the disk 22. The recording the switch arm with the contact 83.'

The recorded sound may then, be played back by 'turning the knob 42 to the play-backvpos'ition.

embossing head 2I to oscillate'u'p and down freely with respect to the arm I 2.- The switch contact I '2!) onthe arm "will at this time engage the contact to llg'ht the green lamp 41, and the contact I9 onthe arm 59 will engage the contact at to connect the recording head'2l with the output terminals I4 and I8 or the'amplifler 62. Also, the contact 12 on'the arm BII will at the Theftwo-way push button switch 91 will now be actuated to release the turntable brake I08 and phone 49 and'emb'ossing head 2| into the amplifler circuits. To indicate the point where the dictation terminated, the operator'may close the same time engagethe contact 93 to'conneet the microphone' 49 with the input -terminals '61 and lo permit the driving motor l4 to'start the 'turntable" substantially instantly. Any speech, mu-

sic or other sounds reaching the microphone 49 will then be amplified and recorded upon thedisk record 22. The recording or the record may be continued until the record is completed, or if desired, the recording may be interrupted at any time. The stopping point may be marked on the record-by meansof the solenoid-actuated pencil III (or punch I22) which is energized by the switch H8 and cause the crayon'III to visibly rmark the record or the punch I22 to strike the record grocve'to cause a slight indentation therein which will produce an audible indication when played back; Iidesired, instruction relative to the dictation, such as corrections, etc., may be written directly upon the, disk record =22 by means or. pencil or crayon without injury tothe record grooves. when the end of the record is approached, the contact of the finger I40 with the pm I win give an audible signal to the dictator.

While there have been disclosed inthis application two forms in'whichthe'invention maybe embodied, it is to be understood that these iorms have been shown for, the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to belimited to the'speciflc disclosures, butmay be modified I andembodied in variousother forms without actuation of the marking switch H8. 'Ihedictaat anytime for re- 1 setting the recording head'to another position on the record. The selector knob 42 will then be 7 turned to the reset position R. V p

{when the knob 42 is in the reset position R,'t he end 21 of the vertical rod 29 willrest on and the head arm l2 may now be moved to the position on the record'whe're the recording is to continue. When in -reset"'posi tion,'the red lamp 46 will be light ed due tcvthe engagement of the contact .''P." .At this time the cam will be positioned so thatthe lower end 31 of the rod'29 rests on thecam portion 39, thus causing the brake'plate 2 8 to tightly engage the recording arm I2, where- I by it will be prevented from swinging, and maintaining' the head 2Ijandstylus 23 up out oi'contact with the record'22. ,The'yellow light u will be lighted during playback by the engagement oi' the contact 80 on the arm with. the'contact i l, the contact IS on the arm' 59 being then in engagement with the contact v90 to connect the the'amplifler 02. The loud speaker" is at the same time substituted iorjthe cutting head 2I. The "pickup unit arm II is then manually tilted downwardly, releasing it from the magnetic catch I5, and the needleli may be gently lowered into the desired sound grooveon the disk 22. I

After the desired portion or the recorded matter has been played back, the machine may be readily arranged for further dictation by raising the pickup unit arm" l3 until the armature I'I engages the magnet; 55, the latteracting as a hook? to keep the pickup clear of the record.

The machine'may then be again resetfas above a recording.

departing from its spirit. In short; the inventiondncludes all the modifications and embodiments coming claims.

Having thus iully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is dewithin'the' scope oi the following sired to secure Letters Patent is: 30

1. In a dictating 'machine, ad'riven turntable, a disk record supported thereon, a sound recording head mounted for swinging movement over said disk record, a pickup head mounted 'for swinging movement over said disk record, a 'vacuum tube amplifier, a microphone, a loud speaker, and means to selectively electrically connect said microphone and said pickup to the input terminals of said amplifier, means to selectively connect said recording head and said loudspeakerto the output terminals of said amplii-ler, means to" visually indicate the, electrical connection "selected, andmeans to magnetically retain said pickup raised from the record while 2; In a'dictating machine, a turntable for supportin'g-a disk record, asound groove forming head,sa recording arm pivoted to swing on a vertical axis i'orsupportlng said head, a pin depending i'rom said turntable, andian angular spring arm carried by said recording arm and having aninturned end in ,alineinent' with said pin to give an audible repeated warnlngsignal whenlthe end of the recording area is reached.

,3. In a dictating machine, a;driven turntable, a disk record supported thereon, a sound recording head mounted iorlfswinging movement over said diskrecord, a pickuphead mounted for swinging movement over saiddisk record, a vac.-

described by turning theknob 42 first to the re-, 1

dictating position D," causing'the embossin the brake plate head II to be automaticaliylowered upon the record and simultaneously connecting the microuum tube amplifiena microphone, a loudspeaker, means to selectively electrically connect said microphone and said-pickup to the input terminals of saidiamplifler, means to selectively connect said recording head and said loudspeaker tothe'output' terminals of said amplifier, means tovisually indicate the electrical connection selected, means to'magnetically retain said pickup head from the record while recording, and brake means to hold said recording head from swing-- in across the record while said pickup is playing back the record. 7 v 4. In a dictating machine for recording and reproducing sound vibrations, a driven turntable for 'supporting a disk record, a recording arm mounted to move oversaid record, a recording stylus-carrying head connected to said arm by a ing pin at its rear end, said arm having an aperture above said pin and alined therewith, a brake plate for engaging said pin and the top surface of said arm, a vertical rod passing downwardly through said-arm for supporting said brake plate, and manually controlled cam means for selectively holding said plate in one of three positions to permit said stylus to engage said record for recording, to hold said stylus in raised position and permit swinging for resetting of the recording arm, and to lock said raised arm from swinging during play-back of said record by a pickup mechanism. Y

5. In a dictating machine for recording and reproducing sound vibrations, a record, a recording arm mounted to move over said record, a recording stylus-carrying head connected to said arm by a horizontal pivot, said head having an upstanding pin at its rear end, said arm having an aperture above said pin and alined therewith,

a brake plate for engaging said pin'and the top surface of said arm, a vertical rod passing downwardly through said arm for supporting said brake plate, and manually controlled cam means for selectively holding said plate in one of three positions to permit said stylus to engage said record for recording, to hold said stylus in raised position and permit swinging for resetting" of the recording arm, and to lock said raised arm from swinging during playback of said record by a pick-up mechanism.

6. In a dictatingmachine for recording and reproducing sound vibrations a record, a recording arm mounted to move over said record, a recording stylus-carrying head connected to said arm by a horizontal pivot, said head having an upstanding pin at its rear end, said arm having an aperture above said pin and alined therewith, a brake plate for engaging said pin and the top surface of said arm, a downwardly springpressed vertical rod passing downwardly through said arm for supporting said brake plate, and manually controlled cam means for selectively holding said plate in one of three positions to permit said stylus to engage said record for recording, to hold said stylus in raised position and permit swinging for "resetting of the recording arm and to lock said raised arm from swinging during playback of said record by a pickup mechanism.

-7. In a dictating machine, a driven record, a stylus-holding recording arm, means to drive said recording arm over said record, a pickupcarrying arm mounted to move freely across said record, means to hold said recording arm with the stylus raised from said record in position to permit resetting of said arm, and means to lock said recording arm in raised position during playback by said pickup, the driving means of said recording arm including friction slipping mechanism to permit the driving mechanism to operate continuously even when the recording arm is locked from movement across the record.

8. In a dictating machine, a driven record, a sound-recording head carrying arm movably mounted with respect to said record, a pickup head movably mounted with respect to said record, an amplifier, a microphone, a loudspeaker, means to selectively connect said microphone or said pickup to the input terminals of said amplifier, means to selectively connect'said recording head or said loudspeaker to the output terminals of said amplifier, means to raise, said recording head from the surface of said record to permit resetting of said recording arm, means to hold said recording arm from movement across the 1 record during playback of said pickup, and

, reproducing sound vibrations, a driven turntable for supporting a disk record, a recording head for forming grooves in the surface of said record,

means to move said head across the surface of said record, a pickup also movably mounted with respect to said record, a microphone for receiving dictation, an amplifier, a loudspeaker, means to selectively connect said microphone or said pickup to the input terminals of said amplifier to energize said groove-forming head or said loudspeaker respectively, means to'simultaneously lift said recording head from said record,

and shift the electrical connections of-said am-y plifier from said microphone to said pickup, means to hold said recording head in elevated position while not recording, and a friction-slipping brake for preventing movement of said head across said record while said turntable continues to rotate.

10. In a dictating machine, a driven turntable, a disk record supported thereon, a sound recording head mounted for swinging movement over said disk record, a pickup head mounted for swinging movement over said disk record, a vacuum tube amplifier, a microphone, a loudspeaker, means to selectively electrically connect said microphone or said pickup to the input terminals of said amplifier, means to selectively connect said recording head or said loudspeaker to the output terminals of said amplifier, means to visually indicate the electrical connection selected, and brake means to hold said recording head from swinging across the record while said pickup is playing back the record.

11. In a dictating machine, a driven disk record, a sound-recording head carrying arm mov-. ably mounted with respect to said record, a pickup head movably mounted with respect to said record, an amplifier having input and output terminals, a microphone, a loudspeaker, means to selectively connect said microphone or said pickup to the input terminals of said amplifier,

meansto selectively connect said recording head or said loudspeaker to the output terminals of a said amplifier, means to raise said recording head from the surface of said record to permit playback by said pickup, and means to hold said 

